Compensation for Public School Employees

Teachers, school administrators, and non-teaching positions in NC school districts (LEAs) are employed by local boards of education but are paid on a state salary schedule based on a number of factors. In addition to the state salary, a local supplement may be provided by the school district. Some public school employees may also receive compensation, or longevity pay, for continuing service. Independent Public Schools (IPS - charter schools, lab schools, and regional schools) may follow the state salary schedules or determine their own.

Certified Educator Salary Schedules include teachers, certified instructional support and school based administrators. All certified educators working in Local Education Agencies (LEA) are required to be paid from the legislated salary schedule. This schedule is approved annually by the general assembly and sets a minimum pay based on the educators years of experience and education level. As a supplement to these monthly amounts, a LEA may approve additional funds to the educator to account for variances such as geographic location, market conditions or school demographics.

• State Salary Schedules
• Guidance
• State Salary Manual and Forms
• Paid Parental Leave
• Prior Year Salary Manuals and Schedules

State Salary Schedules

Salary schedules and daily rates for state legislated certified salaries, and salary ranges for non-certified personnel.

2024-25

• Salary Schedules - Updated July 12, 2024

2023-24

• Salary Schedules Updated January 29, 2024
• 2023-2024 Principal Bonus FAQ October 20, 2023
• 2023-2024 Salary FAQ October 19, 2023

Previous Years

Local Salary Supplement data is available in the Statistical Profile.

Continuation Budget Salary Schedules 2023-2024 - Educator Salaries

G.S. 143C-5-4 provides the legislation on operating without a ratified budget. Per this statute, certified educators are required to be paid at the same level as the 2022-23 State Salary Schedules. LEAs are to use this Continuation Salary Schedules for Educators who received the bump in experience for FY2022-23. Educators who did not receive the bump in years of experience for FY2022-23 shall be paid based on the 2022-23 Salary Schedule.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact a salary analyst .

Guidance

Overtime Exemptions to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

• Overtime Pay Exemptions FAQ
• Fact Sheet on Employees Exempt from FLSA

FAQs for 2023-24

• Reading and Math Teacher Bonus FAQ - January 8, 2024
• CTE Teacher Bonus FAQ - January 5, 2024
• AP/IB/AICE Teacher Bonus FAQ - January 5, 2024

Summer School

Legislated Bonuses

The following bonuses are legislated in the session law and may change from year to year.

• Overview
• Advanced Course Teacher Legislated Bonuses - AP, IB, AICE
• Teacher Legislated Performance Bonuses in Reading and Math - updated January 17, 2023
• Industry Certifications and Credentials Teacher Bonuses - CTE
• 2022-23 Principals Legislated Bonus FAQ
• FAQ for Principal Salary
• FAQ for non-certified salary updated July 14, 2022
• FAQ PRC 071 - Guidance for Supplemental Funds for Teacher Compensation
  • PRC 071 PSU Allotments and Per Teacher Max Supplements
  • Teacher Compensation Guidance for Read to Achieve Summer Reading Camps May 13, 2022
  • Small County and Low Wealth Signing Bonus FAQs April 8, 2022
  • FAQs for COVID Funds
  • FAQ Pertaining to Compensation Items in SL 2021-180 for Charter, Regional, and Lab Schools January 19, 2022
  • Advanced Course Teacher Legislated Bonuses FAQ January 20, 2022
  • Industry Certifications and Credentials Teacher Bonuses FAQ January 19, 2022
  • Bonus Grid January 11, 2022
  • General Salary FAQ December 16, 2021
  • Salary Increase & Retroactive Salary Bonus FAQ December 16, 2021
  • FAQ for $300 Teacher Bonus
  • Clarification on Retirement Monitor Announcement from December 9, 2021
  • 2020-21 Principals Legislated Bonus FAQ
  • 2020-21 Teacher Legislated Bonuses FAQ
  • 2019-20 Principals and Teachers Bonus Summary
  • 2019-20 Teacher Performance - 3rd Grade Reading
  • 2019-20 Teacher Performance - Industry Certifications and Credentials
  • 2019-20 Teacher Performance - Advanced Course (AP, IB, AICE)
  • 2019-20 Teacher Performance - 4-5 Grade Reading and 4-8 Grade Math
  • 2019-20 Principal Performance Bonus - Eligible Schools

  State Funded Recruitment Supplements

  The following are the recruitment supplements funded at the State level. Public school units may have their own additional local initiatives.

  Principal Recruitment Supplement

  Highly Qualified Teaching Graduates

  • HQ Teaching Graduates FAQ
  • Eligible Courses and License Areas
  • Low Performing Schools
    • 2016-17 Low Performing Schools
    • 2015-16 Low Performing Schools

    Other Guidance

    • State Salary Schedules 2015-16 FAQ
    • 2005 Bonus Leave Guidelines
    • Guidelines for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Pay Differential
    • Reduction in Force (RIF) & Hospital Insurance Continuance
    • Differential Pay for Military Duty (Q&A)

    State Salary Manual and Forms

    Manual

    The State Salary Manual contains complete legislative salary information and State Board of Education salary policies.

    • 2024-2025 NC Public School Personnel State Salary Manual - August 8, 2024
    • 2022-23 NC Public School Personnel State Salary Manual
    • Attachment "A" - List of budget codes and their required licensure areas for salary calculation purposes. This is used by administrative staff in the LEAs for coding personnel in the school systems. The Attach A is online with the Uniform Chart of Accounts documents.

    Forms

    • Instructional Coaches Eligible for NBPTS Supplement - Form May 30, 2018

    Paid Parental Leave

    • Paid Parental Leave FAQ for IPS Only - November 2, 2023
    • Paid Parental Leave Presentation August 2, 2023
    • Parental Leave Employee Benefits Manual Updates August 2, 2023
    • Draft Reimbursement Procedures to IPS for Classroom Substitutes Updated November 3, 2023
    • Paid Parental Leave Substitute Reimbursement Form November 3, 2023
    • Paid Parental Leave Substitute Reimbursement Form December 8, 2023
    • Paid Parental Leave Substitute Reimbursement Form Presentation January 5, 2024
    • Paid Parental Leave Substitute Reimbursement Form Webinar (Password: QnRVpqh8)January 5, 2024